Valve for pneumatic-displacement pumps



y 1930-v c. BAYLES 1,758,921

VALVE FOR PNEUMATIC DISPLACEMENT PUMPS Filed Oct. 6. 1927 W J v "if .Ml i; 0 iv J g :Z 2L INVENTOR.

if wigafla ylefl 1s ATTgRNEY.

Patented May 26, 1939 uarrae STATES PATENT QFti'lCE LEWIS C. BAYLES, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO INGERSOLL-RAND COM- PANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY VALVE FOR PNEUMATICDISPLAGEMENT PUMPS Application filed October. 6, 1927. Serial No. 224,380.

This invention relates to well pumps, but

more particularly to an automatic well pump having a tank in the well which fills with liquid, such as oil, and then discharges, and

'5' repeats this operation as long as there is sufiicient oil or other liquid to substantially fill the tank. 7 V

One object of the invention is to produce a unitary valve mechanism adapted to be connected to the main pressure fluid supply pipe which will operate automatically controlled by the back pressure created in the tank and supply pipe as the tank is filling. Another object is to enable the automatic mechanism to be set to cut off the supply pressure after a predetermined interval permitted for discharging, and thereafter return the valve mechanism to initial position ready for the next discharging operation.

The invention is shown in one of its preferred forms in the accompanying drawings, in which-- I Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view partly in vertical section showing an oil well and the automatic pump applied thereto,

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail longitudinal sectional elevation showing the automatic valve mechanism controlling the well tank, with the parts in normal closed position such as would be the case during the time that the tank is filling, and s Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the main pressure fluid supply valve open, but the remaining parts in such position that the main valve is ready to close as pressure is built up behind it. I a

Referring to the drawings, the tank A having the valve B is adapted to be inserted in the well C and is provided with the pressure fluid supply pipe D and the discharge pipe E in the usual manner. Valve mechanism in the casing-F is connected to the supply pipe D for antomatically discharging the tank after it has substantially filled with liquid. Pressure fluid is supplied to the valve casing through the main pipe G.

The automatic valve mechanism comprises the main control valve H for the pressure fluid supply having a relief port J in turn controlled by an auxiliary valve in the valve chamber K. A liquid pressure chamber L is subject to the pressure in the well tank through the passage 0 connecting with the supply pipe D, and liquid pressure controls the operation of the auxiliary valve in the chamber K.

The main control valve H is preferably sub jected to supply pressure on both sides but normally held to its seat by an additional spring pressure due to the heavy spring P held in position by the adjustable screw cap Q. Means are provided, as for instance a port R through the valve H, for permitting supply pressure fluid to passvto the spring pressed side of the valve and in this instance,

ports S are provided in the screw cap Q comautomatically close said valve.

The auxiliary valve comprises the main body portion U having the shoulder V, the stem W and the plunger X. A sleeve Y'is movable relatively to the plunger and a spring Z of medium tension is located between the head a of the valve body and the valve casing for normally pressing the auxiliary valve downwardly to initial or starting position. The sleeve Y is provided with the spring clip 1) which holds thesleeve in any position to which it is moved and it is also provided with the vent ports w which are controlled by the plunger X. A perforated plate 6 is preferably located in the chamber 0 above the valve plungerX'which chamber has a vent (Z and a spring 6 heavier than the spring Z bears between the plate I) and the adjustable cap The lower enlarged bore g. of the auxiliary valve casing contains a plunger h having a spring j which is preferably lighterthan either the spring Z or spring 6, said spring j being located between the plunger and a screw cap k. This plunger it acts asa valve seating against the valve seat 0 when in raised position, and cutting oft the main passage p leading from the oil pressure chamber L to the auxiliary valve chamber beneath the head a of the valve body. During the time that the valve mechanism is idle the plunger 71 is held open by the piston as and its associated parts and free communication is therefore established between the chamber L and the valve chamber K. An auxiliary passage 9 leads from a port 1- in the bottom of the liquid pressure chamber L to a point beneath the auxiliary valve head a and an adjustable needle valve 8 controls this port 1". A passage 6 leads from the main oil passage p to a point adacent the lower end of the plunger it so that the plunger is actuated by oil pressure. A pet cock it connected to the port a: communicating with the relief port J is provided for starting purposes.

In the operation of the apparatus, let it be assumed that the tank A has been inserted in a well, as for instance, a deep well and the valve mechanism has been adjusted ready for starting the pump. In order to start the apparatus in operation on a new installation, after which the operation is automatic. 'th pet cook it is opened in order to vent the spring pressed side of the main valve H. The main valve then opens supplying pressure fluid to the tank A and the liquid is discharged through the discharge pipe E to empty the tank. The pet cock u is closed as soon as the operation starts and while the tank is discharging, supply pressure fluid un der supply pressure of any desired amount passes through the passage 0 and forces the oil or other liquid in the chamber L through the main passage 7) underneath the auxiliary valve head a which immediately and quickly forces the auxiliary valve upwardly, carrying the plunger X and plate 7) upwardly so that the stem lies, opposite the port w in the sleeve Y which places the relief port J in communication with the vent T and maintains the main valve H open. At the same time liquid pressure flowing through the passage 7 forces the plunger it upwardly, seating it against the seat 0 and closing the main liquid passage 79. This movement of the plunger 72 occurs as soon as the plunger is relieved of the weightof the piston a and the passage is uncovered to prevent the sudden inrush of a considerable amount of liquid through the passage 79 into the chamber K. Otherwise only a small amount of liquid would remain in the chamber L to flow through the needle controlled port 1* and, 1s a consequence. the tank A would be evacuated while only partly filled. Liquid then passes more slowly through the port r controlled by the needle valve .9. thence flows through the passage 1 and continues to more slowly raise the an.- iliary valve until the shoulder V forces the sleeve Y upwardly to close off the relief port J. ain pressure fluid then builds up on the spring pressed side of the main valve H and closes said valve. The time interval controlled by the adjustment of the needle valve 8 is sufficient for the discharge of the tank A. The position of the auxiliary valve under the conditions specified is shown in Figure 3 in which case the main valve H is indicated just about to close.

After the tank A has been discharged and the main valve H has closed, the drop of pressure in the tank A will permit the springs c and Z to return the auxiliary valve to its initial position. During this movement of the auxiliary valve the liquid is forced from the chamber K into the liquid pressure chamber L through the passage 7' until the piston 64 again returns the plunger 71, to its initial position. By thus depressing the plunger h the passage 19 will be uncovered and liquid will then pass from the chamber K to the chamber L through the passage 10. The spring clip v on the sleeve Y has maintained said sleeve in the position indicated in Figure 3 and as the plunger X is forced downwardly it first closes the ports to in the sleeve and then the plate 7) pushes the sleeve down to the position indiated in Figure 2 so that the relief port J is maintained closed. The parts are then in position for automatic operation, and as the liquid rises in the tank A the back pressure created in the main supply pipe will pass through the passage 0 and when this back pressure becomes sufficient as the tank A is substantially filled, the oil or other liquid in the liquid pressure chamber L will be forced downwardly, first through the main liquid passage 29 to quickly raise the auxiliary valve and open the relief port J and the vent 'l which permits the main valve H to open and supply pressure for discharging the tank A. The closure of the main passage 77 by means of the plunger it then causes the auxiliary valve to be actuated more slowly through a given time interval as heretofore explained so that the sleeve Y is actuated to cut off the relief port J after the interval of time suilicient for the complete discharge of the tank A.

I claim:

1. A valve for pneumatic displacement pumps, comprising a casing, a main control valve in the casing, a relief port for said main valve, an auxiliary valve controlling said re lief port. a liquid pressure chamber, actuating liquid therein subjected to pressure on the outlet side of the chamber, main and auxiliary liquid passages leading from tl c liquid pressure chamber to the auxiliary valve, for actuating said valve. means for automatically closing the said main liquid pressure passage after the auxiliary valve has started to move, and thereafter permitting actuating liquid pressure to pass through the auxiliary passage, and means for restricting the flow through said auxiliary passage. whereby the control of the said relief port for fill the main supply valve is timed for predetermined periods between opening and closing, and means for returning the auxiliary valve to initial position. 7

2. A valve for pneumatic displacement pumps, comprising a casing, a main control valve for the pressure fluid supply exposed to supply pressure on both sides and subject to spring pressure on. one side tending to close the valve, a relief port for said main valve communicating with that side of the valve subject to spring pressure, whereby the main valve opens when said relief port is opened and closes by the building up of pressure when said relief port is closed, an auxiliary valve controlling said relief port, a liquid pressure chamber, 'actuat ing liquid therein subjected to pressure on the outlet side of the chamber, main and auxiliary liquid passages leading from the liquid pressure chamber to the auxiliary valve for actuating said valve, means for automatically closing the said main liquid pressure passage after the auxiliary valve has started to move, and thereafter permitting actuating liquid pressure to pass through the auxiliary passages, and means for restricting the flow through auxiliary passage, whereby the control of the said relief port for the main supply valve is timed for predetermined periods between opening and closing, and means for returning the auxiliary valve to initial position.

3. A valve for pneumatic displacement um s com risin a c'asin a main control valve subject to supply pressure on both sides but normally held to its seat by additional spring pressure until the spring pressed side is relieved of supply pressure, a pressure relief port, an auxiliary valve controlling the said relief port, a liquid pressure chamber, actuating liquid therein subjected to pressure on the outlet side of the chamber, a main passage from the liquid chamber leading to the auxiliary valve for actuating said valve, an auxiliary passage from the liquid chamber to the said valve, a needle valve controlling said auxiliary passage, and means for closing the main passage after the auxiliary valve has started whereby the auxiliary. valve starts quickly and opens the relief port in order to permit the main control valve to open and thereafter the auxiliary valve travels more slowly and closes the relief port after a predetermined time to permit pressure to build up on the spring pressed side of the main supply valve and close said valve and means for returning the auxiliary valve to initial position.

4. A valve for pneumatic displacement pumps, comprising a casing, a main control valve forthe pressure fluid supply, a relief port for said main valve, an auxiliary valve controlling said relief port, said auxiliary valve consisting of a body portion, a stem,

a plunger on the stem and a perforated sleeve movable relatively to the plunger, a liquid pressure chamber, actuating liquid therein subjected to pressure on the outlet side of the chamber, a passage leading from the liquid pressure chamber to the body portion of the auxiliary valve for actuating said valve, whereby the plunger stem first opens the relief port and thereafter the plunger sleeve closes the relief port after a predetermined time interval, and means for returning the auxiliary valve to initial position.

5. A valve for pneumatic displacement pumps, comprising a casing, a main, control valve for the pressure fluid supply, a relief port for said main valve, an auxiliary valve controlling said relief port, said auxiliary valve consisting of a body portion, a stem, a plunger on the stem and a perforated sleeve movable relatively to the plunger, a liquid pressure chamber, actuating liquid therein subjected to pressure on the outlet side of the chamber, main and auxiliary liquid passages leading from the liquid pressure chamber to the body portion of the auxiliary valve for actuating said valve, means for automatically closing the said main liquid pressure passage after the auxiliary valve has started to move, and thereafter permitting actuating liquid pressure to pass through the auxiliary passage, and means for restricting the flow through said auxiliary passage, whereby the plunger stem is first actuated to quickly open the relief port and the plunger sleeve is thereafter actuated by the body portion of the valve to close the relief port after a predetermined time interval, and means for returning the auxiliary valve to initial position.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

LEWIS G. BAYLES. 

